Donald Trump Says Again He Would 'Absolutely' Pardon Jan. 6 Rioters
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump reiterated his stance on Wednesday that he would pardon the Jan. 6 rioters if he wins the election, dismissing the severity of the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol that resulted in the injury of over 140 police officers. During a panel at the National Association of Black Journalists, Trump stated, "Oh, absolutely, I would. If they're innocent, I would pardon them," adding, "They were convicted by a very tough system."
More than 1,400 individuals have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, with over 1,000 convictions secured on charges ranging from unlawful parading to seditious conspiracy. Hundreds of cases remain pending, and more arrests are expected before the five-year statute of limitations expires in early 2026. Should Trump win the election and his appointees take over the Justice Department, all Jan. 6 cases could theoretically be brought to an abrupt end.
Trump has frequently referred to the Jan. 6 rioters as "warriors," "unbelievable patriots," political prisoners, and "hostages." Senior U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, has expressed shock at the "preposterous" rhetoric used by Republicans regarding the convicted criminals involved in the Capitol attack. "In my thirty-seven years on the bench, I cannot recall a time when such meritless justifications of criminal activity have gone mainstream," Lamberth wrote this year.
When questioned by Rachel Scott of ABC News about his plans for the Jan. 6 rioters, Trump engaged in whataboutism, falsely claiming that there had been a "horrible attack on the Capitol" last week when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Congress. This claim is inaccurate; police effectively kept pro-Palestinian demonstrators away from the Capitol.
Trump appeared to be referring to protests at Columbus Circle by Union Station, where protesters burned flags, vandalized a monument, and assaulted officers. Ten people were arrested, and U.S. Park Police are seeking the identities of six other individuals involved in the assaults and vandalism. "They viciously attacked our government, they fought with police, they fought with them much more openly than I saw on Jan. 6," Trump claimed, despite the clear differences in scale and violence between the two incidents.
Jan. 6 defendants were caught on tape using a variety of weapons and objects during the brutal attack, including firearms, stun guns, flagpoles, fire extinguishers, and even an explosive device. The attack left multiple officers with life-altering and career-ending injuries and resulted in the line-of-duty death of Washington Police Officer Jeffrey Smith.
Trump's claims about permanent damage to monuments due to spray paint are also suspect. The monument in question has a history of being spray-painted and falling into disrepair, with the National Park Service noting in 2016 that the statuary had already "been painted over to hide expanding discoloration."
When directly asked whether he would pardon Jan. 6 rioters who were seen on video assaulting officers with flagpoles and dragging officers down the stairs of the Capitol, Trump did not provide a direct answer. Instead, he pivoted to discussing the officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the riot. "They shot a young lady in the face who was protesting," Trump said, referring to Babbitt, who was shot as she attempted to breach the House Speaker's Lobby.
Trump's comments came the same day the Justice Department announced three new cases against Jan. 6 defendants, highlighting the ongoing legal efforts to hold those responsible for the attack accountable. Despite Trump's assertions, the legal system continues to pursue justice for the violent actions that took place on Jan. 6, 2021.